Unit 6.12 - Wind Energy

Question 1

Wind Turbine Electricity Generation

Answer 1

• Kinetic energ yof moving air (wind) spins a turbine; generator converts mechanical energy to turbine into electricity
• Blades of turbine are connected to gearbos by a shaft that rotates; rotating gears create mechanical energy that the generator transforms into electricity
• average turbine can power 460 homes
• average wind turbine has 15-30% capacity factor (% of total prossible energy it could generate)
  - only produces electricity in 8-55 mph winds
• motorized drive within shaft can turn the turbine to face the wind

Question 2

Wind Turbine Location

Answer 2

• Clustered in groups (wind projecs or farms) in flat, open areas (usually rural)
  - locating them together makes service, repair, and building transmission lines to theme asier
  - can share land with agrucultural use
• offshorewind = widn farms in oceans or lakes
  - capitalizeson faster wind speads
  - does require transmission lines built across long distances to reach land though

Question 3

Wind Energy Pros

Answer 3

• Non-depleatable (isnt decreased by its use) - even better than renewable
• No GHG emissions or air pollutants released when generating electricity
• No CO2 (climate change) or no NOx, SOx, PM as with bruning fossil fuels
• Can share land uses (doesnt destroy habitat or cause soil/water contamination as fossil fuels do)

Question 4

Wind Energy Cons

Answer 4

• Intermittency (isnt always available)
• can’t replace base-load power (sources that are always available likefossil fuels, nuclear or gethermal)
• Can kill birds and bats (especially larger migratory birds)
• Can be considered an eyesore or source of noise pollution by some